Page 61 of A Real Good Bad Thing

He kept pace with me as I strode down the dock toward land. “You seem annoyed.”

“Very observant.”

“Honestly, Ruby. What’s wrong?”

I waved a hand dismissively. “I just need to call it a night.” I was essentially race-walking now, driven by my hurt feelings to get away from him. To spend the night alone. “We can come up with an art gallery plan tomorrow, right? Isn’t that what’s important?”

“Sure. Of course.” He matched my pace without any problem, which was almost as frustrating as how easily he shifted gears. Obviously he’d have no trouble shifting gears from ourtrystbefore he left it behind.

“Did you enjoy the party?” I asked. “And your conversation with Reid?”

He stopped in his tracks and grabbed my arm, wrapping strong fingers gently around me. “What are you talking about?”

Why be tactful? Clearly I wasn’t going to see him again after we found the diamonds. What difference did it make? “You tell me, Mister What Happens on Flamingo Key stays on Flamingo Key.”

His brow knitted as he seemed to puzzle that out. Then it clicked, and he said my name on a frustrated sigh. “Ruby.”

“Well, you made us seem like nothing to Reid,” I said, crossing my arms.

“I don’t know him. I wasn’t going to tell my personal business to a stranger. You want to know why I said that?”

More than anything.“Yes, I do.”

He stepped closer, but he didn’t touch me. “Because I am breaking all my rules by doing this with you, and it’s private. This thing between us is private. It’s nobody’s business but yours and mine.”

My chest dipped.

This man.

How could he go from dismissing me to making my heart flip? But there he was, doing it again. “You sure about that?” I asked, more quietly this time, more vulnerable too.

“So goddamn sure,” he said. “So sure that I don’t need to blab to a stranger how I feel about you.”

Oh god. I was a jerk for doubting us based on an overheard comment. “I’m sorry,” I said.

He smirked. “You wear possessiveness well. It’s sexy.”

I laughed, but then I replayed the last few things he said.How I feel. I couldn’t resist. “Howdoyou feel?” I asked, nervously, hopefully.

He stepped closer to me and gently took hold of my bare arms. I trembled, feeling so right there with him. “This is how I feel,” he said, his green gaze holding mine intensely. “Every time I think of you when I should be focused on the job, every time I touch you, it feels right. I broke my cardinal rule—don’t get involved while on a job—to be with you.”

I felt like I was floating on a new wild hope—of him, of us, of tonight. “I can’t stop thinking about you,” I admitted.

“Join the club, sweetheart,” he said, then ran his thumb along my lower lip, touching me like I was precious and like I was the object of all his desires.

Now wasn’t the time to ask him to date. Now was the time for something else. Something I was sure we both desperately needed and wanted.

A first.

“Would you spend the night with me?” I asked.

“Yes. As long as we leave right this fucking second,” he said.

I was running off the dock in no time.

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